Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-03
THEIR TIME HAD COME.
A Baptist Preacher Who Showed His
Faith by His Works.
Ben: Petty Poor.'s "Reminiscences.

Ben: Pc leg P0ors's "reminiscences.
Col. Richard NJ. Johnson used TO tell the
following story OF q relative Of his named
sucket, Baptist preacher. Sucket had
grown up on the frontier. a dissOiuto fellow
and gre = fighter. but just before The cam
paign against Tecumseh ne had suddenly
changed his course and become pious. He.
however. mad strong inclination for the
camp, and volunteered his services TO assist
the colonel against the enemy. under condt-
ton that he should have the privilege Of
preaching TO the soldiers in the camp. The
condition was ably embraced. ana Sucket
was Installed a Major, under sort OF certlh p
cate from the commanding f1cer.
He was an energetic. stirring man, capt.
tal ohcer and Jealous preacher. On the
day before the battle OF the Thames, the
Colonel dropped in to one OF his meetings
lie was holding forth with a stem lorlan voice,
ana insisting strongly on the doctrine OF pre-
destination. ''Al the destInIes of men" said
he, ''are in the hands of the Almighty. and
not sparrow falls 10 the ground without
His direction. He ls too, the God OF battles.
he directs the bullets IN the tight, as well as
me peaceful operate MS OF the household;
and hence there is Just as little danger on the
neld OF battle as in the workshop or at the
plow-tall. If you are to die, you Will lie at
al even Q; but II you are TO live, the AL
mighty can turn the bullet out OF its course as
easily az He can number the hairs OF your
mead. III your time has come, you will die,
whether on The battle Geld or not. But"
come. doh't think. my friends, you are to
die just now"
Inc next morning, while preparations were
MAKING for the battle. johnson met the
Dre acher. well. sucket." said he with
emile, we are likely to have serious work to-
dsy; and as you think that man can't die
Till MS time comes, and that he's just as safe
In one place =. another, should like to have
you charge at the head OF your column; ami
mark me now. don't you fire till the enemy
mas discharged every gun; then take aim at
the whites of their eyes, and, having fred,
stop for nothing. but grapple them Dy the
throat. and make sure WORK Of it," Very
well. Colonel" said Sucket, Pm always will
Ing to test my faith by my works."
Accordingly. Sucket took hi position at the
head OF his command. which was about 500
strong, and received The fire of 700 of the
enemy. He stood il like man. only winking
little as the balls came whiZzing past him III
showers. But he Obeyed his order to he let
ter. and having received the 700 bullets of the
enemy, he advanced forward. pouring in a
deadly DIRE, and Immediately grappled hand
TO hand with the foe-whIch soon decided the
fate OF the day.
monstrated with him. good-humpredly. for
ktlllng so many Of the enemy. "Why,
S0cket," said he, this was altoge her useless;
halt The number would have answered every
purpose. How came you TO cause such a use
less waste OF human life?" Don't know how
1t wa. Colonel" replied the pre- cher; eve
only hred once; and I Father think it was be.
cause their tlme had come "